The Knights’ defencemen are the stars of this first-round series so far.

In Windsor, will the Spitfires try to inflict a few more bumps and bruises than they managed in the two Budweiser Gardens contests?

Bring it on, Will Lochead said.

“I like physical games,” said London’s overage defenceman, who has been jostling frequently with six-foot-two, 200-pound rookie forward Will Cuylle in front of the net. “There are a couple of big guys on their team, so it’s nice. It gets you into the game a little more.”

The best way to beat the Knights is by pinning them deep. That requires stout forechecking, the kind Alex Formenton used to spark London to victory and with more vigour than the Spits have displayed to date.

“We have skilled D who can make their way around their guys,” Lochead said. “The game’s changed. It’s not as much hard hitting and fighting. The intimidation factor isn’t as much an issue as it was maybe five years ago.”

The best way to breakout pressure is to keep the puck moving forward. When you succeed, that’s how an opponent can end up with 15 shots for an entire game.

“You have to take a hit to make a play,” said captain Evan Bouchard, who already has seven points, “and we have to keep doing it.”

London Knight Tony DeHart roughs up Cory McGillis of the Windsor Spitfires during their OHL game at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario on Friday, December 15, 2005. DeHart received a minor penalty on the play.

Taylor Hall of Windsor jumps over Justin Taylor of London after Spitfires teammate Greg Nemisz scored against Knights goalie Daryl Borden during last night's game at the John Labatt Centre. The goal gave the Spitfires a 3-1 lead in the second period. Windsor won 5-4 in overtime to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. (2009 File photo)

London Knights Corey Perry, (left to right) Dylan Hunter and Dan Fritsche celebrate their third goal during OHL playoff action against the Windsor Spitfires in Windsor, Ont. on Thursday April 7, 2005. (Windsor Star-Dan Janisse)

Windsor Spitfires forward Aaron Luchuk dodges a hit by London Knights defenceman Olli Juolevi during their OHL hockey game at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont. on Friday December 4, 2015. Craig Glover/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

London Knights goaltender Tyler Parsons covers his post as Windsor Spitfires forward Christian Fischer looks to play the puck from his knees during their OHL hockey game at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont. on Friday December 4, 2015. Craig Glover/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

London Knights forward Aaron Berisha checks Windsor Spitfires defenceman Logan Stanley into the boards during their OHL hockey game at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont. on Friday December 4, 2015. Craig Glover/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Things get rowdy between Windsor Spitfires and London Knights in the second period of their OHL hockey game at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont. on Friday October 2, 2015. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

London Knights forward Aaron Berisha jumps to let the puck through while attempting to screen Windsor Spitfires goaltender Brendan Johnston, who saved the shot, during their OHL junior hockey regular season game at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario on Sunday December 28, 2014. Windsor won the game 5-4 in a shootout. CRAIG GLOVER/The London Free Press/QMI Agency

London Knights defenseman Aiden Jamieson keeps his eyes on an airborne puck near his face as Windsor Spitfires forward Sam Povorozniouk attempts to tap it with his stick during their OHL junior hockey regular season game at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario on Sunday December 28, 2014. Windsor won the game 5-4 in a shootout. CRAIG GLOVER/The London Free Press/QMI Agency

London Knight Brett Welychka is checked into the boards by Windsor Spitfire Trevor Murphy during OHL action in London, Ont. on Friday December 6, 2013.DEREK RUTTAN/ The London Free Press /QMI AGENCY

London Knights forward Bo Horvat and Windsor Spitfires forward Josh Ho-Sang keep their eyes on the puck as they face off during their OHL hockey game at Budwesier Gardens in London on Friday October 4, 2013. CRAIG GLOVER The London Free Press / QMI AGENCY

Rick Nash of the London Knights powers around the Windsor net while being hooked by Spitfires Paul Glallonardo. No penalty on the play and Nash was able to get a shot of the net, during first period action at the London Ice House, Jan.11/02. (CP PHOTO DAVE CHIDLEY The London Free Press)

Dylan Hunter of the London Knights and Kyle Wellwood of the Windsor Spitfires collide near the boards in the first period of play during game 7 of their OHL playoff series in Windsor on April 1, 2003. (Tim Fraser/Windsor Star)

Connor McMichael of the Knights gets left alone and Nathan Staios of the Spits can't get to him in the slot and McMichael beats Windsor goalie Kari Piiroinen just under his glove for a 3-0 lead in the first period during their Friday night game against the Spitfires at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont. Friday January 25, 2019. Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Antonio Stranges of the Knights reaches for a pass in front of Michael DiPietro of the Spitfires as the clock hits 0:00 at the end of the first period during the Knights home opener at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont. Photograph taken on Friday September 21, 2018. Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Conner McMichael of the Knights opens their season with the first goal on a rebound off of Windsor Spitfire goalie Michael DiPietro, with Thomas Stevenson too far away to make a play. Budweiser Gardens on Friday September 21, 2018. Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Alex Formenton of the Knights gives them an early lead as he slips a shot under the blocker of Windsor's Michael DiPietro before Grayson Ladd of the Spitfires can help out during their afternoon game at Budweiser Gardens on Monday February 19, 2018. Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Robert Thomas of the Knights tries to jam a rebound past Michael DiPietro of the Spitfires while being checked by Sean Day in the first period of their Friday night game at Budweiser Gardens. Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network (2017)

Knights goaltender Tyler Johnson looks for the puck that's beneath his pads while Knights defenceman Andrew Perrott keeps Tyler Angle of the Spitfires away from the net during the first period of their game at Budweiser Gardens on Friday September 22, 2017. At the end of the first the game was tied up at 1-1. Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Adrian Carbonara of the Knights exhorts his team after a fight with Hayden McCool of the Spitfires during the first period of their 2nd playoff game Sunday March 26, 2017 at Budweiser Gardens. Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

JJ Piccinich of the Knights works in tight on Michael DiPietro of the Spitfires while being checked by Austin McEneny of the Spits while Sean Day covers the slot during the first period of their playoff game at Budweiser Gardens on Friday March 24, 2017. Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Cole Carter of the Windsor Spitfires crashes into a linesman after bouncing off London Knight Alex Forementon during the first period of their OHL hockey game at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont. on Sunday November 20, 2016. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Windsor Spitfires winger Ty Bilcke, left, and London Knights winger Adam Restoule, right, drop the gloves and trade punches early in the first period of their OHL hockey game at Budweiser Gardens in London on Friday October 5, 2012. CRAIG GLOVER The London Free Press / QMI AGENCY

Zack McQueen of the Windsor Spitfires gets a face full of leather from London Knights goalie Michael Houser and defenceman Scott Harrington in the third period of their OHL playoff hockey game at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario on Friday, March 23, 2012. DEREK RUTTAN/ The London Free Press /QMI AGENCY

Windsor Spitfire Tom Kuhnhackl crashes into London Knights goaltender Michael Houser in the third period of their game at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario on Monday February 21, 2011. The Knights won the game, 3-2. Houser was named first star of the game.DEREK RUTTAN/THE LONDON FREE PRESS/QMI AGENCY

Knights forward Jordan Foreman gets knocked off his feet by Windsor's Mark Cundari while Foreman was trying to screen Spitfires goalie Matt Hackett in the first period of their game Friday night at the John Labatt Centre in London (2007).

John Tavares of the London Knights and Conor O'Donnell of the Windsor Spitfires wait for an official to untie them after their skates and laces became entangled during the first period of last night's game at the John Labatt Centre. (2009)

Windsor Spitfire Adam Henrique buries the puck behind London Knight goalie Jason Guy in the first period of an OHL game at Windsor Arena in 2008.

Forward Mathew MacDougall #24 of the Windsor Spitfires moves the puck against goaltender Joseph Raaymakers #32 of the London Knights on October 4, 2018 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

Forward Nathan Dunkley #17 of the London Knights battles for a loose puck against defenceman Sean Allen #11 of the Windsor Spitfires on October 4, 2018 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

London Knights forward Daniel Erlich is about to beat Windsor Spitfires goalie Josh Unice with a backhand shot for the first goal of their season-opening game at the John Labatt Centre last night. The Knights won 4-2 against the defending Memorial Cup. (2009)

London Knight Corey Perry celebrates after scoring on Windsor Spitfire netminder Kyle Knechtel in the first period of their OHL playoff game at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontaro on Wednesday, April 13, 2005.

Mike Yovanic of the London Knights loses his helmet during a fight with Richard Greenop of the Windsor Spitfires at the drop of the puck last night at the John Labatt Centre. (2009)

A melee of London Knight and Windsor Spitfire players in front of the Knights goal in the second period of their game at the John Labatt Centre on Friday, September 18, 2009.

All nine Knights goals have been scored or set up by rearguards.

It started with Bouchard’s howitzer over Kari Piiroinen’s glove Friday and continued right to Joey Keane’s long pass up the middle that sparked Cole Tymkin’s final goal to complete the 5-0 whitewash Sunday.

The Knights knew their blue line would be one of the best in the OHL this season. They have used it to full advantage against the Spits.

The textbook defensive pairing in hockey, for instance, is usually a puck-moving offensive type matched with a stay-at-home, work-the-corners veteran body.

Dale Hunter tossed out that conventional thinking, putting 20-goal rearguard Adam Boqvist alongside Bouchard. For much of the year, he also has featured a top power-play unit with three d-men – Bouchard, Boqvist and Alec Regula – lately.

London is 3-for-3 with the man advantage so far in the series.

“We have seven D for practices so the pairings always get jumbled around,” Lochead said. “Everybody plays with everyone else, so you get to know everybody and their tendencies. If we change the pairings up, everyone knows where the other guy likes the passes and the different little knicks and knacks of the game.

“We were trying to line match in Saginaw (even without last change) against the (high-scoring) Tippett line. We changed for Windsor. It doesn’t really matter to us.”

If the Knights defensive corps is the face of the team, then hometown boy and ex-IceDog Lochead provides the snarl.

“He competes at everything, two-touch, ping pong, sewer ball,” London assistant coach Dylan Hunter said. “That’s how he’s wired. He’s what a playoff player is all about and thrives on it.”

And if the Spitfires do ramp up the physical play, they can expect the same right back from him.

That's it. Knights up 2-0 in series. Windsor ends up with 15 shots total. Kooy with first playoff shutout.

The Knights have been a much more productive team at home this season. If they can build off the five goals they scored in Saginaw last week and keep the threat going at Windsor, they will have made great strides in building a consistent offence.

“It’s a test going to play on the road,” London forward Cole Tymkin said. “All the guys are excited. We’re a confident group. Any of our lines can play against any of theirs. When you zip it around, you get guys running out of position. We have guys who can put the puck in when someone’s out of place.”

FLOW GAME: Nathan Dunkley ignited the Knights’ offence Sunday. He was a lone wolf, though, when it came to playoff hairstyles.

He decided on a mohawk cut while many of his mates chose to have a couple of lines shaved into the sides of their heads, with a few promises to grow old-school mullets.

“I just kind of went ahead and did it,” Dunkley said. “I wasn’t sure if some of the boys would follow or not. I figured why not if we go on a bit of a run here, hopefully. And might as well go all-out.”

Lochead went to a barber shop but a good chunk of the Knights were at the mercy of checking forward Alex Turko.

“He was the barber for us,” Bouchard said. “We were talking about doing playoff hair and he said he had some clippers at his house and he’s done it before. (Liam) Foudy was the one who trusted him first, then some of the rest followed.”

RINKSIDE: Lochead was still marvelling over Bouchard’s series-opening, top-shelf goal from Friday. “That goal is going in any league,” he said. “It was a rip. I don’t think anyone saw that other than him. That’s what you need from players like him.” . . . Former Jr. Knight Brett Budgell scored the double overtime winner in Charlottetown’s 3-2 victory over Cape Breton Friday. The Islanders lead the Quebec league series 2-0 . . . Every NHL team is trying to figure out where Connor McMichael, the Knights’ winner of the Coulter’s 3 Star Cup this season, slots in the prospect scale right now. His short-side tally Sunday was a fitting first OHL playoff goal. But don’t forget about Knights teammate Matvey Guskov, either. His one-touch pass to spring Dunkley’s breakaway winner was a terrific bit of skill . . . Lucan native Navrin Mutter’s season is probably over. The Hamilton Bulldog was assessed a cross-checking match penalty Sunday in Ottawa and was given a three-game suspension. The 67’s are up 2-0 in the series . . . The London Nationals and Leamington will play in the GOJHL’s Western Conference final starting Thursday in Tomato Town. The Flyers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to knock off Komoka in Game 7 Sunday. The Kings’ valiant run included ex-Knight Colin Martin, now an assistant coach, and Knights prospects Owen Say (6-4 with a 2.61 goals against average and .921 save percentage), Dario Beljo (three goals and 11 points in 12 playoff games) and Chase Strychalak (one goal and five points).

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